RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- PMC, a leading municipal services firm, is proud to announce the launch of the newly designed Families Thrive online learning portal for the Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department. Under the County's Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative, the Families Thrive website offers new e-learning modules to help professionals in children and family services identify signs of domestic violence and educate themselves on appropriate courses of action. Utilizing this online community resource, it is hoped that the level of awareness around domestic violence issues will rise among community leaders and have a positive impact on those affected.

The Families Thrive site features a learning section that includes online presentations, nine engaging and interactive learning modules, a discussion forum, and other resources. These are designed to educate visitors that domestic violence comes in many different forms and to advise on ways to have a positive influence on those who are impacted by it.

"Domestic violence is an issue that if properly identified and addressed can make a huge difference in the development of a child," said Juliana Carson, administrative analyst for the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative. "Our hope is that by launching this new online learning tool, we'll be able to educate a larger segment of our community about the warning signs of someone who has been abused and the steps they can take to make a positive change."

"In order to educate visitors on the importance of this issue and its impact in the community, we wanted to tell the stories of people affected by domestic violence," said Heather Hogan, web design project manager at PMC. "To drive home the human effect, we oversaw the performance and recording of 'lived experience' narratives, told by each family member in an abusive situation. The character's story, read aloud along with their picture, brings to life the issues faced by these families and helps professionals better understand the problems their clients face."

To learn more about the signs of domestic violence and how to have a positive impact, visit www.familiesthrive.org.

About PMC

PMC is a full-service municipal services consulting firm with expertise in planning, environmental, finance, urban design and revitalization, public outreach and sustainability services. PMC has offices throughout the Western U.S. For additional information, visit www.pmcworld.com.